720Deere

And I'm with you 100% on the unfairness of the laws...The small trucks and trailers need the safety devices like headboards just as much as the big rigs.

What would really be funny would be to hear the conversation between Loren and the DOT officer who finally catches him...

Too bad I had to go and skroo up my reply by messing up simple math, but what can I say...I don't have a second grader in the house and the batteries were dead on my calculater...

That attitude or line of thinking that we are talking about is dangerous. This subject has come up many times in the past 6 months and it will always be debated. We haul 2 tractors at a time on a 28' rollback and have always used 4 chains and binders per tractor. They sometimes weight more than 10,000 lbs, but that's not the point here. Even if they were Cubs I would do the same. We have less than $500 invested in our Grade 70 3/8" chains and 1/2" binders. The binders are Harbor Freight specials, but they are rated at 9200 lbs and they will never see half of that. For that price it is hardly worth taking the chance and no more often than they get used (15 times a year) they will last a long time.

Yes the Federal Regs say you are required to use a minimum of 2 securements on anything under 10000 lbs, but it also says that whatever you use must be capable of stopping movement in ALL directions. It is not possible to do that with 2 chains and 2 binders let alone 2 chains and 1 binder! There is also a 60% holdback requirement on the rear chains. If you have a 9500 lb tractor with 1 chain and binder each front and rear(the law says 2 right?) you do not meet the 60% holdback requirement. 60% of 9500 is 5700 lbs and 3/8" grade 70 chain is only rated 5400 lbs. Just because we do something and get away with it doesn't mean it is safe or right. It will catch up with you eventually.